A US expat who sampled a beloved British Christmas staple for the first time in the UK has described how “America let me down”. Kalyn, who runs the Girl Gone London YouTube channel, often highlights the cultural contrasts she’s encountered as an American who’s lived in the UK for around 10 years.

In her latest offering, Kalyn explored fruits and vegetables she’d “never tried” before crossing the Atlantic, covering everything from swedes (which she notes Americans would recognise as rutabaga) to gooseberries. However, one vegetable that may surprise British readers is the beloved parsnip.

These are a cherished component of our traditional Sunday roasts and, naturally, an indispensable fixture on Christmas dinner tables nationwide, especially when crisped to perfection in the oven.

Kalyn explained: “Now, next on my list is parsnips because this is again where America let me down. In America, if you know parsnips, they’re probably something you remember from a fancy restaurant, or maybe you buy them in the organic section of Whole Foods.”

She went on: “But, in Britain, again, parsnips are everywhere. They’re in every supermarket; they’re on every roast dinner, and British people talk about them in the same way Americans would talk about something like carrots. They’re just a basic fact of life.”

Whilst acknowledging that parsnips do feature in American cuisine, she revealed that her first encounter with a “proper” roasted parsnip proved to be a “revolution”.

In quintessentially British style, her introduction to the festive favourite came about whilst her flatmate was preparing a Sunday dinner, and she spotted them chucking “these things” into a pan.

Kalyn continued: “They kind of looked like white carrots, but they weren’t; they were way better. Roasted parsnips are sweet. They’re kind of nutty, and again, they caramelise in the best way.”

Elaborating on her observations, Kalyn noted that the parsnips’ interior turns “very creamy”, and, when prepared properly, they’re somewhat like a “dessert in a vegetable”.

In a separate development, a new poll of 2,000 adults who’ve undertaken Christmas dinner preparations revealed that 77% will dedicate one hour and 43 minutes, on average, to Christmas Eve food preparation.

According to the research, commissioned by Lyle’s Golden Syrup, timing everything (44%) and juggling numerous dishes (29%) were considered the most formidable festive dinner tasks.

Lyle’s has also teamed up with chef Sam Holland, who offered some guidance on managing the seasonal stress. He commented: “Christmas cooking doesn’t have to be stressful.

“With a bit of planning, making a checklist of each dish and delegating simple tasks to family members can help lighten the load and turn cooking into a fun, shared experience.

“And a willingness to try something new – whether it’s adding a twist to classic dishes or getting creative with flavours and ingredients – can make the festive kitchen a place of discovery.”